I do, Boyfriend Shirts!

After a long dry spell on the glam streets, the hustle-bustle is back as Hollywood and Bollywood celebs are once again moving around, flaunting new trends albeit slowly and in masks. And the newest trend in town? Looking smoking hot in the casual ‘boyfriend shirts’. While several Hollywood beauties, such as Angelina Jolie, Gigi Hadid, Britney Spears and Katie Holmes, are already taking it easy with the hottest “boyfriend shirt” trend, Bollywood cuties such as Bhumi Pednekar, Ananya Panday and Malaika Arora are adorning this classic trend for their social media posts.

A blast from the past
The boyfriend shirt trend had begun way back in the ’90s and was huge then. But it would seem that as we meander through the New Year, finally coming out of a pandemic and waiting to embrace even a semblance of normalcy again, the boyfriend shirt has turned into the perfect Spring-2021 option for style.
Designer Rina Dhaka agrees that the big white shirt is a rerun from the ’90s and that it’s an easy fashion trend. “The style got more popular with time, and now we have the shirt dress and other variations with high and low hems. Now, we have extreme-oversized shirts, which can be paired with belts and boots. Wear these shirts short or long, dress up or dress down with it, tweak it by going off-shoulder with it or choose to wear conservatively,” adds Rina.

Ode to androgyny
Incidentally, while the trend to wear androgynous or semi-androgynous clothes has been popularly traced back to Coco Chanel, the 19th-century French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt seems to have pioneered this style for the male roles she played on the stage, including Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

According to designer Nupur Saxena of House of Primes, Sarah’s style inspires ladies even today. “When it comes to using your man’s clothing or an item from his wardrobe, it’s always about spontaneity. Knot it up, roll up the sleeves, go the half-tuck way or tie it up with a belt and use it as a tie-up accent on your neck or waist. You can also use his big shirt as a layer over your foundation piece or wear it as a dress. You can always pair up these styles with denim, shorts, or skirts and choose your match mask and shoes before you step out,” she says, pointing out tips to get it right with the boyfriend shirt.

Similarly, New-York-based Indian designer Tina Tandon’s tells us that her shirt-inspired line for women uses menswear shirting material with strategic cuts and details to add a feminine touch. Suggesting some easy ways to pair your boyfriend shirt, she says, “Wear it with leggings. Then add a belt to cinch the waist, and add some statement jewellery to give it a fashionable touch. You can also tie the shirt into a knot at the hem, pair it with skinny jeans and wear it with a neckpiece.”

Style files
Whether in solid colours, prints, plaid or stripes, the oversized boyfriend shirt is a favourite outdoor–indoor item for those who love no-fuss clothing and accessories.

Actor Amrita Puri, who recently paired a classic white shirt with the black bikini for a shoot, vouches for the trend. “I love oversized and comfortable clothing, even more so when it’s gender-neutral. I’d wear it as a dress with sneakers or shorts. Layering it over skinny jeans or well-fitted pants is another way I style it. It can even look sexy if you wear it like a throw over a bandeau top, bikini or bodysuit,” she says. “Big earrings like the hoops or statement necklaces add a bold touch to the look.”

Designer Chinu Kala of Rubans Accessories also shares tips about how to accessorise better and look elegant, effortless and fashionable in an oversized shirt. “Gold-plated, textured statement hoops work very well with shirts. You can wear them for a brunch date with your girls or for a fancy night out with your friends. They are casual, comfy and chic. Also, layered necklaces with charms, stones, and interlinked chains can be used to amp it up or tone down your look,” she adds.

Actor Amrita Puri, who recently paired a classic white shirt with the black bikini for a shoot, vouches for the trend. “I love oversized and comfortable clothing, even more so when it’s gender-neutral. I’d wear it as a dress with sneakers or shorts. Layering it over skinny jeans or well-fitted pants is another way I style it. It can even look sexy if you wear it like a throw over a bandeau top, bikini or bodysuit,” she says.

When it comes to using your man’s clothing or an item from his wardrobe, it’s always about spontaneity. Knot it up, roll up the sleeves, go the half-tuck way or tie it up with a belt and use it as a tie-up accent on your neck or waist
— Nupur saxena, designer, House of Primes

Gold-plated, textured statement hoops work very well with shirts. You can wear them for a brunch date with your girls or for a fancy night out with your friends. They are casual, comfy and chic. Also, layered necklaces with charms, stones, and interlinked chains can be used to amp it up or tone down your look
— chinu kala, designer, Rubans Accessories